EC bids to clean up internet for kids

The four-year initiative, Safer Internet plus, is set to combat harmful and illegal content, including spam, and promote a safer internet environment.

"Children should have the right to use the internet freely, to chat, to learn or to play games," said enterprise and information society commissioner Erkki Liikanen in a statement. "But to move freely on line, children must be protected from risks of being exploited or cheated by adults."

The scheme will provide hotlines for the public to report illegal content, and pass on information to authorities. It will also support anti-spam technology.

Half of Europe's parents believed their children would be unsure of what to do if an uncomfortable situation on the internet arose, according to research from Eurobarometer.

http://europa.eu.int/iap